Cigar/Scotch Pairing

Cigar/Scotch Pairing

Can anyone recommend a good cigar for pairing with Johnny Walker Black? A great while back I had a Glenlivet 12 with a cigar but can't remember which one. What I do remember was how well they went together. The cigar made the fruity flavors of the scotch come though really nicely. The JWB has that smokey sweet flavor going on and would love to pair a cigar with it. I'm open to any other pairing of SM/blends ith cigars also. Thanks.

Re: Cigar/Scotch Pairing

The main considerations in successfully pairing spirits and cigars center around making sure the relative strengths of each are similar, and then electing whether to go the contrasting flavour or complementary flavour route (as relating to sweetness-dryness, degree of wood influence, etc.).

Re: Cigar/Scotch Pairing

Can anyone recommend a good cigar for pairing with Johnny Walker Black? A great while back I had a Glenlivet 12 with a cigar but can't remember which one. What I do remember was how well they went together. The cigar made the fruity flavors of the scotch come though really nicely. The JWB has that smokey sweet flavor going on and would love to pair a cigar with it. I'm open to any other pairing of SM/blends ith cigars also. Thanks.

-Pete

Pete, being objective, since JHBL is pretty balanced and low on ABV, I would tend to go for a mild cigar too. Are you in the US or not? If you are, I would recommend you to get the Lonsdales from Davidoff or the robusto from Zino. If not - and have access to cuban cigars - my recommendation would be Romeo y Julieta Mille Fleurs or any of Montecristo Open Series, such as Open Junior, Open Regatta or even the Open Eagle.

Re: Cigar/Scotch Pairing

pkt77242 wrote:I generally don't drink scotch with cigars as it dulls my tastebuds but here is a somewhat recent thread on the topic plus there are many others if you use the search function and choose topic only.

Re: Cigar/Scotch Pairing

I rarely if ever smoke when drinking whisky. But there was one time I had a nice Balvenie doublewood and Glenlivet 15. I was smoking an Acid Blondie. Very mellow cigar which went well and complimented the whisky's

Re: Cigar/Scotch Pairing

I agree that one puff of a cigar will completely change the whisky drinking experience. That being said, simpler single malts have the ability to make a cigar taste better. An older blend on the rocks if it's a hot day....Aberlour 10yo neat....Bruichladdich 10yo.....any sherry bomb.

Overall though, I tend to think of Scotch whisky as more of a contemplative beverage, whereas cigars lend themselves toward more generic tastes. Old Forester with a sophisticated Dominican. Pyrat with a big brawny Cuban. A Black Russian or Rum Alexander with earthier sticks like Hondurans and Padrons.

Re: Cigar/Scotch Pairing

peergynt323 wrote:I agree that one puff of a cigar will completely change the whisky drinking experience.

I agree completely. I've been an avid cigar smoker for many years, having sampled over 100 cigars and somewhat of a collector.To me, cigars do not compliment scotch. They do bourbon, beer, wine, but they just seem to take away from the experience of the scotch to me. I have tried, but find myself not enjoying the cigar as much, nor the scotch. Scotch needs to be savoured alone (no food or anything to compete with it). But, to each his own taste.